Alpineplanning Scheme

AlpinePlanning Scheme

21.04ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

This Clause provides local content to support Clause 12 (Environmental and landscape values), Clause 13 (Environmental risks) and Clause 14 (Natural resource management) of the State Planning Policy Framework.

21.04-1Native vegetation, biodiversity and environmental values

Key issues and influences

A major proportion of the Shire comprises public land containing significant environmental assets.
The high conservation significance of much of these extensive public land holdings is reflected by the wide variety of flora and fauna supported including many rare, vulnerable and endangered species.
The Alpine National Park and Mt Buffalo National Park are two of the 11 national parks and reserves that comprise the Australian Alps National Parks network protecting an area of great national and international importance.
In excess of 20,000ha of native forest is also located on private land.
The natural resources and environmental qualities of the Shire are also the key assets that contribute to its main industries tourism, timber and agriculture.
The quality and appearance of the natural environment has a major impact on the prosperity and well-being of the community.
There are numerous stakeholders in the management and protection of the natural resources and environment.
Climate change is predicted to have significant consequences for biodiversity at many different levels from individual animals to ecosystems.
Threats to flora and fauna from inappropriate land use, development and land management.
Impacts of the reduction and modification of vegetation across freehold land.
Public/private land interface issues.

Objectives

Maintain, conserve and enhance biodiversity and native vegetation assets and values.
Maintain, conserve and enhance the natural environment and environmental and values in rural areas.
Facilitate protection of native fauna, conservation of native plant communities and significant species in their natural condition and the maintenance of genetic diversity.
Support land use and development that maintains and enhances the natural environment for ecological, social and economic benefits of existing and future generations.
Encourage the retention of and re-establishment of native vegetation on private land.
Provide protection and appropriate management of significant remnant areas.
Recognise and manage conflicts between the environment and other activities such as agriculture, forestry and tourism.
Ensure that development and land use addresses the natural physical features and site context of the area, including soil, water quality, flora, fauna and biodiversity values.
Anticipate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

Strategies

Protect and enhance the biodiversity assets and natural environmental values of local, state, national and international significance.
Protect and retain native vegetation and enhance its contribution to biodiversity values.
Avoid the inappropriate zoning of land for development that has potential to, or will result in the loss of remnant vegetation, biodiversity and other areas of high environmental value.
Achieve ecologically sustainable use, development and management of rural land, particularity in the agricultural, timber and other industries that rely on the natural resources.
Ensure that land use and development protects and enhances the natural environment and environmental values.
Recognise, protect and maintain environmental, cultural and aesthetic features and values of rural areas.
Promote and facilitate sustainable land use and development, encouraging environmentally sustainable design outcomes.
Foster recognition, appreciation and protection of natural and cultural heritage sites, places and features, including Aboriginal heritage.
Protect, enhance and extend habitat and wildlife corridors across the landscape.
Ensure that development is sited and designed to avoid and minimise removal of native vegetation.
Retain, protect and enhance native vegetation, including roadside vegetation, remnant vegetation areas, large old paddock trees and revegetation areas.
Prevent the ongoing and cumulative loss of native vegetation on both private and public land.
Protect, rehabilitate and extend the integrity of habitat corridors across the landscape, particularly between private and public land.
Encourage innovative environmental and native vegetation retention initiatives, including carbon farming
Require as part of any application for a major development or rezoning an analysis of the direct and indirect impacts of the proposed use and development on native flora and fauna.

Implementation

The strategies related to native vegetation and biodiversity will be implemented through the planning scheme by:

Using policy and the exercise of discretion

When advancing local policy at Clause 22.02-1 in respect of native vegetation and biodiversity.

Application of zones and overlays:

Apply the Rural Conservation Zone over remote rural properties surrounded by public land to protect the land from further development.

Apply the Public Use Zones over land in public ownership including recreation facilities and public utilities to facilitate appropriate use.

Apply the Vegetation Protection Overlay to significant roadside vegetation identified in the Roadside Vegetation Management Plan.

Further strategic work

Work with the relevant Catchment Management Authorities to identify the appropriate planning tools to address catchment and water quality issues and to provide better linkages between the planning scheme and Regional Catchment Strategies.
Liaise with Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Goulburn Murray-Water, North East Water Corporation, North East Catchment Management Authority and East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority to prepare a regional water catchment policy so as to adequately address land use planning issues raised by designation of land as Special Water Supply Catchment areas.
Prepare roadside vegetation management plans.
Investigate the extent of remote rural areas in the Shire suitable for inclusion in the Rural Conservation Zone.
Investigate application of the Vegetation Protection Overlay and the Environmental Significance Overlay to sites of biological significance and remnant native vegetation.
Revise mapping and provide overlay controls for significant landscapes, erosion prone areas and significant environmental areas.

21.04-2Alpine areas

Key issues and influences

Substantial private and public landholdings across the Alpine Shire are located above 1100m AHD where snowfall may persist as ground cover for long periods over the winter months.
These alpine areas are natural assets of local, regional and State significance. They also exhibit significant social, historic and cultural values.
The alpine areas have a high recreational use all year round. During winter snow sports range from downhill skiing through to backcountry ski touring. For the rest of the year a wide variety of nature based and general outdoor pursuits include bush walking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, horse riding, and sight-seeing.
The designated Mount Hotham and Falls Creek Alpine Resorts have been removed from the Shire and are administered under the Alpine Resort Planning Scheme.
Dinner Plain is a significant freehold resort in the alpine area.
Located 10 km from Dinner Plain at Horse Hair Plain is Mount Hotham Airport which at an elevation of 1300m AHD is the highest commercial airport in Australia.
Other significant areas within the alpine and sub-alpine areas include Howman’s Gap, Bogong Village and Dargo High Plains.
The Alpine Resorts exert considerable influence over the Shire’s economy and character.
The Shire plays a major support role to the Alpine Resorts as well as Dinner Plain and Mount Buffalo through visitor accommodation, community facilities, commercial services, infrastructure, equipment, access and provision of supplies.
The environment of the alpine areas is particularly sensitive and fragile.
The natural condition of the catchments in the alpine areas helps deliver water to river systems that supply urban and rural land uses.
There is ongoing development pressure on the environment, infrastructure and services of alpine areas.
Impacts of climate change on alpine areas including natural condition values of alpine catchments.
The importance of the Great Alpine Road and Mount Hotham Airport balanced against the impacts of increased accessibility to alpine areas.

Objectives

Protect and maintain the natural, aesthetic and scientific values of the alpine areas including important geological and landform features.
Ensure that development is supported by an appropriate level of infrastructure.
Protect and enhance native vegetation and natural environmental assets on freehold land.
Encourage the maintenance of the high quality visual amenity of the Great Alpine Road by ensuring any development outside of designated areas is not visible from the road.
Provide for nature based tourism development that is small-scale and located in areas with access to appropriate tourist activities, services and amenity.

Strategies

Consolidate development primarily in identified areas such as Mount Hotham, Falls Creek and the Dinner Plain area.
Provide appropriate planning controls that protect the integrity of both the Mount Hotham Airport operations and the environment.
Ensure development takes place only if it is supported by the appropriate level of infrastructure.

Implementation

The strategies related to the alpine areas will be implemented through the planning scheme by:

Using policy and the exercise of discretion

When advancing local policy at Clause 22.02-2 in respect of alpine areas and implementing relevant Local Area planning strategies for Dinner Plain and Bogong detailed in Clause 21.07.

Application of zones and overlays:

Apply the Rural Conservation Zone: over isolated freehold land and land surrounded by National Parks and/or State Forests.

Apply the Public Use Zones to land in public ownership to facilitate appropriate use and development.

Apply the Special Use Zone to Mount Hotham Airport, Bogong Village and Dinner Plain village to maintain the specific development pattern so as not to detract from their alpine setting.

Other implementation measures:

In addition to the planning scheme, the strategies will also be implemented through assisting and liaising with the Alpine Management Boards, Parks Victoria and Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning in the management of its respective areas.

Further strategic work

Investigate whether land adjacent to the Mount Hotham airport should be used for any use other than that directly associated with the operation of the airport. This work should also consider the presence of alpine bogs, heathlands and wetlands in proximity of the airport.
Undertake assessment of freehold land to determine environmental significance.

21.04-3Landscapes

Key issues and influences

There is a significant variety of landscapes across the Shire from the fertile valleys and terraces along the Kiewa, Ovens and Buffalo Rivers to the spectacular mountain ranges and alpine areas of the Great Dividing Range.
The quality and appearance of the natural environment has a major impact on the prosperity and well-being of the community.
Many people choose to live, invest or visit the Alpine Shire because of the spectacular rural and mountain scenery, as well as proximity to clean rivers, forests and open space.
The Australian Alps (including the Alpine National Park and Mount Buffalo National Park) is one of ten recognised National Landscapes.
Across the Shire there are also a number of landscapes that have been recorded or classified by the National Trust for their special appeal and characteristics.
The panoramic views from the elevated viewing points of Mt Porepunkah “encompassing bold mountain ranges and lush valley floors” are also classified by the National Trust.
Key landscapes across the Shire can be regarded as being of the highest level of public concern for visual management. Such areas are highly sensitive to visual intrusion.
Many thousands of sightseers visit various scenic lookout and vantage points across the Shire. Poorly sited and designed buildings and changes in land management practices can reduce the quality of the view from these sites.
Of significance to the visual and landscape character of the Shire is the absence of promotional signage along the main tourist and traffic routes within the Shire.

Objectives

Protect the natural and built landscape setting, values, integrity and character in rural areas.
Protect the Shire’s significant valley and alpine landscapes from inappropriate development.
Highlight the iconic natural and cultural landscapes across the Shire to appeal to and improve the experience of the visitor.
Minimise visual impacts on natural landscapes, especially from major viewing areas.
Support development that maintains scenic qualities and demonstrates high levels of visual management where appropriate.
Ensure that development is sensitive to the landscape values of the area.
Protect natural landscapes, with special emphasis on areas of greatest scenic quality and viewer interest.
Protect and maintain the environmental, scenic and natural attributes of the approaches to the Alpine areas.
Restrict promotional signage along the main tourist and traffic routes within the Shire.

Strategies

Assess the development and use of freehold land adjoining national parks to minimise detrimental impacts.
Recognise and protect National Trust recorded / classified landscapes and views.
Regulate signage, especially promotional signage along the declared roads and all other transport routes in the rural areas of the Shire and at entrances to the towns.
Ensure that use and development in rural areas considers, protects and does not dominate the landscape setting, integrity, character and significance.
Protect and maintain the rural character of the municipality by minimising the visual intrusion of new buildings on the natural landscape.
Maintain locally significant views and vistas, particularity the open farmed landscape and ridgelines that have a view line to or from national and state parks or other crown land.
Reduce the impact of use and development on land adjacent to national and state parks other crown land.
Recognise and protect the landscape and tourism values of the agricultural sector.
Recognise the economic value of agricultural landscapes along key touring routes.
Minimise the visual impact of infrastructure and signage on the landscape and viewpoints.
Protect and enhance the visual quality of road corridors, particularly between towns.

Implementation

The strategies related to landscapes will be implemented through the planning scheme by:

Using policy and the exercise of discretion

To advance local policy at Clause 22.02-3 in respect of significant landscapes when deciding on applications for use and development to protect the visual quality of landscapes.

Application of zones and overlays:

Apply the Significant Landscape Overlay over National Trust recorded/classified landscapes in the Buckland Valley, Happy Valley, Harrietville Valley, Lake Buffalo, Mount Buffalo, Myrtle Creek Valley, Kiewa Valley, and Wandiligong Valley areas.Further areas may be identified through the Lower Hume and High Country Landscape Assessment Study.

Apply the Vegetation Protection Overlay to significant vegetation in identified landscape areas.

Further strategic work

Undertake a visual landscape assessment along touring routes including the alpine approaches, bicycle routes, gourmet routes, rail- trails and heritage routes.
Prepare a roadside management plan for the Shire.
Review the Significant Landscape Overlay mapping and schedule to recognise and protect significant landscapes of scenic and cultural value.

21.04-4Environmental risk

Key issues and influences

Flooding within parts of the Alpine Shire is a severe constraint on development with the extent of flooding in the Ovens River and tributaries being well documented.
Bushfire hazard is a significant issue in many parts of the Alpine Shire with large sections of the municipality affected by the Bushfire Management Overlay
Bushfire risks in both urban and rural areas are largely due to dense vegetation cover, difficulty of access for emergency vehicles, and exposure of development at the rural/urban interface.
Conflict between vegetation retention and clearing to reduce the risk from bushfire.
Impact of climate change on storm events and bushfire risk.
Need to maintain fire regimes appropriate to the conservation of viable populations of indigenous flora and fauna.
Contaminated land risk as a legacy of past land uses including tobacco, timber and mining industries.
Landslip risk particularly in steeper areas of the Shire.

Objectives

Identify, recognise and plan for environmental risks and constraints in planning for the use and development of land.
Manage the risks of environmental hazards, including bush fire, flooding and land slip, to avoid adverse consequences on the natural and man-made environment.
Ensure that land use and development addresses relevant site context and natural features of the area including the potential for bush fire, flooding and landslip risk.
Facilitate a risk-based approach to land use planning in areas subject to environmental risk and require land use planning to integrate with and support other risk management and mitigation strategies.
Implement bushfire risk assessment and mitigation in land use planning.

Strategies

Implement appropriate planning controls to minimise impact and reduce threat to life and property.
Discourage buildings, works, land use and subdivision that would be detrimental to the maintenance of the natural systems of land affected by flooding and inundation.
Avoid re-zoning and development of land for urban purposes where there is a high risk of bushfire and flood.
Strategic planning for new settlements or expansion of existing townships should ensure the appropriate provision and location of infrastructure such as roads and water supply.
Ensure that environmental risks, constraints and hazards are fully considered in proposals for the use and development of land.
Consider climate change in land use planning, including initiatives to address the issue such as fostering alternative energy sources, use environmentally sustainable development principles and carbon farming.
Minimise the impact of pest plants and pest animals to protect environmental and biodiversity values and agricultural land.
Prevent inappropriate development in areas subject to flooding.
Ensure that areas subject to flooding are properly identified and considered to limit the potential for unsuitable development.
Ensure that decisions on strategic and settlement planning prioritise the protection of human life over other policy considerations and apply the precautionary principle when assessing the risk to life, property and community infrastructure from bushfire.
Strengthen community resilience to bushfire by ensuring that bushfire protection measures are considered and given effect to in decision making.
Implement bushfire risk assessment and mitigation measures to:

Reduce the overall bushfire risk to communities;